Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro vs Lenovo Legion 2 Pro: The Ultimate Gaming Phone Battle

The mobile gaming scene is booming, and these two powerhouses – the Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro and the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro – are vying for the title of ultimate gaming phone. Both pack flagship Snapdragon processors and boast impressive features, but which one truly delivers the best experience? Let's dive in and find out.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Black Shark 4S Pro takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster 120W charging and slightly superior processor clock speeds. While the Legion 2 Pro offers excellent cooling and a unique dual-port charging setup, the Black Shark's raw speed and charging prowess give it the edge for serious gamers.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro Lenovo Legion 2 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
5G bands1, 3, 8, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 3, 28, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2021, October 132021, April 08
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, October 16Available. Released 2021, April 26
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, aluminum frame
Dimensions163.7 x 76.2 x 9.9 mm (6.44 x 3.00 x 0.39 in)176 x 78.5 x 9.9 mm (6.93 x 3.09 x 0.39 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight220 g (7.76 oz)259 g (9.14 oz)
 Physical pop-up gaming triggersBuilt-in two cooling fans RGB light panel (on the back) 6 pressure sensitive zones (Gaming triggers): 4 ultrasonic buttons (top), 2 capacitive sliding buttons (back)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~395 ppi density)1080 x 2460 pixels (~388 ppi density)
Size6.67 inches, 107.4 cm2 (~86.1% screen-to-body ratio)6.92 inches, 113.7 cm2 (~82.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)AMOLED, 144Hz, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak)
 Always-on display-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ 5G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSAndroid 11, Joy UI 12.8Android 11, Legion OS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 128GB 12GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 18GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 3.1
Main Camera
Dual-64 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), 1/1.32", 1.0µm, PDAF 16 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1.0µm
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µm-
Triple64 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.97", 0.7µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro), AF-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, 1080p@960fps; HDR10+8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+ rec.
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single20 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 0.8µmMotorized pop-up 44 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.65", 1.0µm, AF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.2, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0Two USB Type-C (2.0 & 3.1), OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging120W wired, 50% in 5 min, 100% in 15 min90W wired (dual USB-C ports), 50% in 12 min, 100% in 30 min 65W wired (single USB-C port)
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 5500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, WhiteTitanium White, Ultimate Black
Models-L70081
PriceAbout 650 EURAbout 880 EUR

Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro

  • Blazing-fast 120W charging
  • Slightly faster processor clock speeds
  • High refresh rate display
  • Good camera system

  • Gaming-focused design may not appeal to everyone
  • Cooling system not as advanced as Legion 2 Pro

Lenovo Legion 2 Pro

  • Excellent cooling system
  • Larger display for immersive gaming
  • Dual USB-C ports for versatile charging
  • Good performance

  • Slower charging speeds compared to Black Shark 4S Pro
  • Camera system not as impressive as Black Shark 4S Pro

Display Comparison

Both phones feature vibrant AMOLED displays with high refresh rates (144Hz on the Black Shark, 144Hz on the Legion). The Legion 2 Pro boasts a slightly larger 6.81-inch display compared to the Black Shark's 6.67-inch, offering a more immersive experience. Color accuracy and brightness are comparable, making both excellent for gaming and media consumption.

Camera Comparison

The Black Shark 4S Pro features a triple camera system (108MP main, 13MP ultrawide, 5MP macro) while the Legion 2 Pro has a dual camera setup (64MP main, 16MP ultrawide). Image quality is generally good on both, but the Black Shark's higher resolution main sensor provides more detail. Video recording capabilities are comparable.

Performance

Both are powered by the Snapdragon 888+ chipset, but the Black Shark 4S Pro has a slightly higher CPU clock speed (3.0 GHz vs 2.84 GHz on the Legion 2 Pro). In real-world gaming, both handle demanding titles with ease, but the Black Shark might exhibit marginally better frame rates in the most intensive scenarios. The Legion 2 Pro's advanced cooling system helps maintain sustained performance during extended gaming sessions.

Battery Life

The Black Shark 4S Pro's 120W charging is a game-changer, allowing for incredibly fast charging times (50% in 5 minutes, 100% in 15 minutes). The Legion 2 Pro offers 90W charging (single port) or 65W (dual port), which is still fast but significantly slower than the Black Shark. Both phones have a similar battery capacity (4500mAh), so battery life under typical usage is comparable.

Buying Guide

The Xiaomi Black Shark 4S Pro is ideal for gamers prioritizing charging speed and peak performance. The Lenovo Legion 2 Pro is a great choice for those who value advanced cooling, a larger display, and a more versatile feature set, even if it means slightly slower charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Black Shark 4S Pro good for non-gamers?
While heavily marketed towards gamers, the Black Shark 4S Pro is a capable smartphone for everyday use. Its powerful processor and excellent display make it suitable for general tasks and media consumption.
❓ Does the Lenovo Legion 2 Pro get hot during gaming?
The Legion 2 Pro's advanced cooling system is designed to prevent overheating. While it can still get warm during extended gaming sessions, it generally maintains stable performance better than many other smartphones.